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Ortakoy- Sapinuva

Ortakoy- Sapinuva, one of the important administrative centres of the Hittites is situated 2 km southwest of Ortakoy District, and 55 km southeast of Corum. During the Hittite period it was at a strategic point both geographically and politically and it was also a military and religious centre. In a letter found at the Tokat MaSat Hoytik excavations, there is a statement relating to Sapinuva - “When you receive this tablet, send immediately 1701 soldiers from Ishapitta to the city of Sapinuva, be in front of His Majesty in two days.” According to this document and information obtained from nearly 4000 tablets with cuneiform writing found at the Ortakoy-Sapinuva excavation; this place was a very important centre. Letters sent to the king and queen, which are a large percentage of the correspondence, demonstrate the existence of a kingdom. The great king was Tuthalia III and his queen was Taduhepa. When Tuthalia III died, Taduhepa ruled the country with Suppiluliuma I.

Sapinuva city was also a place for the army headquarters and an army was stationed there continually. The Great Hittite king Murshili II also said that he had inspected and led the army at Sapinuva. Sapinuva as this important administrative centre for the Hittites spread over a very large area, with cities for its own administrative region. It appeared to be an organized city with institutions and two separate temples for the Tempest God. Also there was the Queen’s Palace, headquarters for the commander and the municipality.